Holder for articles to be electroplated



F. T. TAYLOR l HOLDER FOR ARTICLES TO BE ELECTROPLATED FlegvJuly '7,1923 2 Sheets-Sheet in f" 1g MTL Oct. 6, 1925;

F. T. TAYLOR HOLDER Fon'ARjrIcLEs To BE nLEcTRoPL-ATED 2 Sheets-Sheet' 2Filed July 7, 1925 5 nvefntoz loaw( T Tnffd 3.5% @Howe/13A Patented Oct.6, 1925. Y I

- UNITED'STA'TES Y A '1,555,891 PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. TAYLOE, OE MATAWAN, NEW JEEs-EY, AssIoNOE To A. P. MUNNING acof., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OT NEW JERSEY.

' HOLDEE EOE ARTICLES TO BE ELEOTEOPLATED.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, FLOYD T. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, aresident of Matawan, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new and useful Holder for Articles to' beElectroplated, of which the following is a. specification.

The invention relates to the art of subjecting articles tO bathtreatments and to the agitation or tumbling of articles during suchtreatments, and, although capable of other uses, is particularlyYapplicable for use 1n electroplating and analogous processes as carriedout upon small articles desired to be subjected en masse to one or morebaths, usually while contained in barrels Or in porous or perforatedbaskets.

One Object of the invention is to simplify the operation of conveyingarticles of the above nature through successive baths or tanks, toenable the articles to be treated to remain in the same basket or thelike throughout the entire process, thus avoiding the extra laborincident to the transfer of the' articles from one basket to anotherduring treatment.

The invention also aims to provide a holder for the baskets orcontainers for articles as above-mentioned, which will agitate or tumblethe articles to be treated andsubject them effectively to the action ofthe bath in which they are immersed, and which will enable the basketsand articles to be readily connected to and disengaged from the workholder.

Another object is to provide a work holder of the above nature .whichmay readily be manipulated as may be necessary to obtain eiicientelectrical circuit conduction to the articles carried thereby, when thelatter are to be subjected to electric treatment.

Also vit is an Object of the invention to enable the motion of the workholder to be quickly and easily stopped when desired, for example, whena work-receiving basket is to be connected thereto or disengagedtherefrom.

Further Objects and advantages of the invention will`be-in part obviousand in part specifically pointed out in the descriptionhereinaftercontained, which, taken in connection 'with' the accompanyingdrawings,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof;

,such embodiment, however, is to be consid- 1923. Serial No. 650,017.

ered merely as illustrative of its principle. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side View, partly in section, of a work holder constructedin accordance with the invention showing the same in operative relationto a tank.

Fig. 2 is an end view'taken from the upper end ofthe apparatus as thesame appears in Fig. 1, and with certain parts cut away. L

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. l, looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing detached certain portions of a pair ofarms, which in the present embodiment of the invention constitute aclamp for detachably engaging the work-receiving basket.

In the .electrolytic treatment of articles of such size or shape as torender it undesirable to support the articles individually, it is usualto place a large number of such articles in a basket or container madeof porous or perforated material, and to immerse such basket in the bathto which the articles are to be subjected. It is also preferable torotate the basket While in the bath, in order to agitate or'tumble thearticles, and bring them in eiicient contact with the bath.

The electrolytic treatment furthermore requires that the articles besubjected successively to the action of a large number of baths such asthe following (l) -Alkali cleaning and grease removing treatment;

(2) Cold water rinse;

(3) Deoxidizing treatment;

(4) Rinsing;

(5) Electroplating treatment.;

(6) Rinsing;

(7) Hot rinse for vdrying purposes, the first treatments of which may beconsidered preliminary as preparing'the articles for the electroplatingstep, and the last treatments of which may be considered final sincethey effect the necessary Operations upon the articles to put them inproper condition, after having been electroplated. Thus if thearticles'have to be transferred from one basketor container to anotherduring the above treatments, the extra labor entailed thereby becomes asubstantial factor of eX- pense.

In accordance with the present invention,' I provide a work holder ofsuch naturethat the articles being treated, or baskets or containers forthe articles to be treated, may be readily attached and disengagedtherefrom, and by the use of which the articles may remain in the samebasket throughout the entire treatment.

In the present instance the basket for receiving the articles to betreated is shown. as having a body portion 1 of porous or perforatedmaterial, and a bail 2 for the usual purpose.

The apparatus as a whole is suitably positioned over a tank having sidewalls 3, as for example by a main support or bracket 4, having jaws 5adapted to fit over a side wall of the tank, and to be secured theretoby means of a clamping bolt 6.

The work holder, denoted generally by the numeral 7, (Fig. 1) issupported by bracket 4, and is rotatable as regards its active partswhich carry and thus rotate the basket 1, although in the illustratedembodiment the work holder also includes a housing 8 which is notrotatable, and is connected to the bracket 4, preferably, as will belater described in detail. The work holder 7 includes a spindle 9, whichis journaled in the housing 8, and is provided adjacent its lower orinner 4end with a supporting member for the basket 1; in the presentinstance this supporting member is constituted by a hook member 10adapted to engage under bail 2 of the work-receiving basket 1.

A suitable driving mechanism is provided for the spindle 9 for rotatingthe same, this being efected preferably by driving and driven elementsmounted respectively upon the support 4 and the spindle;as shown, ashaft 11 (Fig. 3) is journaled in the support 4 and provided with a worm12 ywhich engages al worm gear 13 fixed to spindle 9, the shaft 11 beingprovided with a pulley 14 or the like if a belt drive is used.

I prefer to so construct the apparatus that the rotation of the Workholder may be.

readily stopped as may be desired, for example when the basket 1 is tobe removed or a new basket placed in position; in the presentembodiment'of the invention, the work holder may be moved relative toits support 4 to disengage the worm gear 13 from worm 12. As shown, thehousing 8 of the work holder is pivotally mounted on the support 4 bymeans of a pin 15 (Fig. 1) extending through ears16 on the sides of thesupport and a longitudinal rib 17 on housing 8. Thus the housing isnormally urged by gravity into position wherev worm 12 and worm gear 13engage, but if desired the work holder may be elevated to separate theseelements. Preferably a lever 18 is mounted on the support 4 to elevatethe Work holder; in the present instance this lever is pivoted on theshaft 11, and is provide-d with a cam-shaped lug 19 engaging an ear 20on housing 8. In the position of the handle Shown in Fig. 1 the workholder is operatively connected to drive shaft 11, but if the handle ismoved to the right, the work holder will swing about its pivot 15 todisengage it from drive shaft 11 and also elevate the work-receivingbasket 1 in the tank.

Preferably the Work holder is provided with a detachable clamp forholding basket 1 in proper position during rotation, the clamp alsopreferably being used in conjunction with the basket supporting member10. It is preferred furthermore to hold the basket in such positionthat, as the work holder rotates, the motion of the basket will beeccentric, thus tending to agitate the articles being treated, and bringthem into more efficient contact with the bath. In thel present form ofthe invention the clamp is made up of a pair of arms 21 pivoted'upon theshaft 9, or the hook 10 attached thereto, and provided with forkedfingers 22 adapted to bear against the sides of work-receiving basket 1.As shown, each of the arms 21 is formed by two parallel levers, and theclamp is so arranged thatthe weight of the basket 1 and its contentspressing upon the lower arm 21 will cause the clamp to grip the basketmore firmly; as shown in Fig. 4, the meeting ends of two of the leversabove-mentioned are provided respectively with a'pin 23 and acooperating slot 24, with the result that if the lower arm 21 tendstoshift under the weight of basket 1, the upper arm will be forced morefirmly against the basket. Likewise if the upper arm 21 be raised torelease the basket, the pin 23 and slot 24 will cause the remaining armto swing outwardly.

It will be noted that the basket is held in a position oblique to theaxis of rotation of spindle 9, to obtain the eccentric motion abovereferred to.

The clamp may also be readily held in any desired position, as by meansof a dog -25 slidably mounted upon supporting member 10 betweenshoulders 26 on the adjacent ends of the tworemaining levers which makeup the arms 21, the dog being urged as by a spring 27 into engagementwith one or both of shoulders 26 to hold the clamping arms 21 againstmovement. The dog 25, however, may'be withdrawn from its above-mentionedposition, as for example by pressing upon a thump piece 28 to slide thedog away from shouders 26 against the pressure of spring 27. At this.time the clamping arms 21 may be adjusted to any position desired, andsaid arms will remain in suchadjusted position above nature may beemployed for each of the tanks, and baskets such as basket 1 abovedescribed may be progressively moved along the tanks and attached to thesuccessive work holders, thus enabling thel complete cycle of treatmentof the articles in each basket to be carried out without requiring thetransfer of such articles from one basket to an-` other.

In cases where a work holder of the above character is employed forsubjecting articles to an electroplating bath, I employ a cathode rod inconnection with spindle 9 preferably in such manner that the position ofthe rod may be shifted as may be necessary at different times to enablethe bath to actmost effectively upon the articles to be plated. Inthepresent form of the invention the cathode rod 30 is slidably mountedWithin spindle 9, and provided at its lower end with a conducting disc31 of extended surface adapted to contact with the articles beingrotated and agitated in basket l. The rod 30 isprovided at its upper orouter end with a handle 32 for shifting the rod as aforesaid. Thus theelectrical connection is made `to the articles, independent of thebasket in which they are contained, and in many instances a basketconstructed entirely of insulating materiall will be employed. However,the cathode rod 30 preferably is exposed on the inner surface of hookmember 10, whereby if desired current may be led to the cathode rod atthis point from a member engaging the hook.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the cathode rod isentirely insulated from the work holder as a whole, by means of aninsulating bushing 33 within spindle 9, which bushing is extended out tothe end of hook member 10. The cathode rod 30 is also provided with acontact ring 34, which engages a fixed contact finger 35 (Fig. 4)suitably supported in position, as by post 36 clamped toa ledge 37extending-out wardly from bracket 4. In the present instance the contactring 34 is held in position between the upperend of spindle 9 and a hub38 enclosing the Icathode rod 30 and connected to the housing 8 by webs39 (Fig. 2) on opposite sides of the housing. Thus collector ring 24rotates with the active parts of the work holder, but cathode rodl 30slides along the same when being shifted.

Where the invention is used in connection with electrolytic treatment,the work holder preferably is so related to the electricalconductingparts that the latter are automat-ically adjusted to breakcircuit when the work holder is moved from normal position,

' or when its drive -is released. In the illusvcollector ring 34 from.its cooperating fixed Contact 35.

Although the invention has been disclosed as constructed forelectroplating, .it will be understood that the same is useful for manyother purposes where articles are desired to be agitated and tumbledduring bath treatments, or subjected to successive baths while carriedby baskets or containers.

Furthermore, in case of larger articles of suitable shape, the use oft-he basket or container may be dispensed with.

While a specific embodiment of the in-vention has been described, itwill be obvious that many changes may be made therein without departingfrom its principles, as deined in the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. A tumbling apparatus of the class described'comprismg a rotatablework holder, a workreceiving basket hung therefrom, means for supportingsaid work holder in position over a tank, and-means whereby said basketmay be detached from said holder while the latter is in operativeposition relative to its supporting means.

2. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatablework holder,

means for supporting said work holder in position'over a tank, awork-receiving basket hung from said work holder, said basket and workholder having quick detachable engaging parts whereby the basket isremovably hung from the work holder.

3. A tumbling apparatus of the class de-I scribed comprismg a rotatablework holder having a hook thereon, means for supporting said work holderin position over a tank, a work-receiving basket hung from said hook,and a cathode rod projecting into said basket.

4- A tumbling apparatus of the class rescribed comprising a rotatablework holder,

means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank, awork-receiving b asket, said basket and work holder having detachableengaging parts whereby the basket is removably supported from the workholder, and a clamping device carried by said Work holder for holdingthe basket in position, said clamping device comprlsing arms pivoted tothe work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of the bask-et.

5. A tumbling apparat-us of the class described comprising a rotatablework holder, means for supporting said work holder in osition over atank, a work-receiving baset, said' basket and Work holder havingdetachable engaging parts whereby the bas-v ket is removably supportedyfrom the work holder, and a clamping' device carried by said work holderfor holding the basket in position, said clamping device comprising armspivoted to the work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of thebasket,

fio

position over a tank, a Work-receiving bas.

ket, said basket and work holder having detachable engaging partswhereby the basket is removably supported from the Work holder, and aclamping device carried by said work holder for holding the basketinposition, said clamping device comprising arms pivoted to the Workholder and adapted .to bear against the sides of the basket, and areleasable catch for holding said arms in clamping position.

7 A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatableWork holder, means for supporting said Work holder in postition over atank, a Work-receiving basket and a clamp carried by said Work holderadapted to detachably engage the basket.

8. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatableWork holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over atank, a Work-receiving basket and a clamp carried by said Work holderadapted to detachably engage the basket, said clamp comprising armspivoted to the work holder and adapted to bear against the sides of thebasket.

9. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatableWork holder, a -ixed support therefor adapted to position the Workholder over a tank, a fixedly supported driving element for the Workholder, and means whereby said Work holder may be moved relative to itssupport to disengage the Work holder from said driving element. 10. Atumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a work holderhaving a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said Work holder inposition over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carriedrespectively by said support and said spindle, and means whereby saidspindle may be moved relative to said support to disengage its drivenelement from the drip'iiig element.

11. A tumbling apparatus eti the class described comprising a Workholder having a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said work holderin position over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carriedrespectively by said support and said spindle,

said Work holder being pivoted to its support on an axis spaced from thedriving and driven elements to permit the Work holder i to be tilted toseparate the said elements.

l2. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Work holderhaving a rotatable spindle, means Jfor supporting said Work holder' inposition over a tank, engaging driving and driven elements carriedrespectively bysaid support and said spindle,

said work holder being pivoted to its support on an axis spaced from thedriving and driven elements to permit the Work holder to be tilted toseparate the said elements, and a device mounted on the support formoving said work holder to disengage said elements.

13. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatableWork holder, a fixed support therefor adapted to position the Workholder over a tank, means for r0- tating said Work holder comprisingdriving and driven elements carried respectively by the support and workholder, and means carried by said support for moving the Work holder todisengage said elements.

14. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatableWork holder, a work-receiving basket carried thereby, and a cathode rodcarried by said work holder and projecting into said basket, means beingprovided whereby the' position of said cathode rod may be shifted Withrespect to the basket.

rod slidably supported Within said spindle and projecting into saidbasket.

16. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Workholderv having a rotatable spindle, a Work receiving basket supportedfrom said s indle, a cathode rod slidably supported Wiiiliin saidspindle and projecting into said basket.

17. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a Work holderhaving a rotatable spindle, a Work-receiving basket supported from saidspindle, a cathode rod sidably supported Within said spindle andprojecting into saidbasket, said cathode rod being insulated from thespindle, and an electrical contact device supported in fixed position toconducty current from said cathode.

18.'A tumbling apparatus of the class described compri-sing a Workholder having a rotatable spindle, means for supporting said Work holderin position over a tank, means for rotating said spindle and a hookmember carried by said spindle adapted to support a Work receivingbasket.

vsaid cathode rod projecting rearwardly beyond the spindle and a iixedcontact in conductive relation to the rearwardly'projecting portion ofsuch cathode rod. I

20. The method. of supporting and conveying articles to be subjected toelectroplating treatment, through the preliminary,

electroplating and final tanks, which lcomprises providing rotary workholders for the above-mentioned tanks, placing the articles to betreated in a'basket and attaching said basket successively to the workholders respectively associated with the successive tanks, whereby thearticles remain in the same basket while being carried through all of`said tanks.

21. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatablework holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over atank, and means for having a work-receiving basket from said work holderin an eccentric position'with regard to the axis of rotation of the workholder.

22. A tumbling apparatus, of .the class described comprising a rotatablework holder, means for supporting said Work holder in position over atank and a clamping device carried by said work holder adapted to engagea Work-receiving basket, said clamping device actingto hold the basketin an eccentric position with regard to the axis of rotation of the workholder.

23. A tumbling apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatablework holder, a fixed support therefor adapted to position the workholder over a tank, means whereby the position of the Work holderrelative to its support may be adjusted, circuit making devicesaffording electrical connection to said work holder and said devicesincluding means whereby the circuit 4 June, 1923.

is changed when the position of the work.

and means whereby said work holder may be moved relative to its supportto disengage the work holder from the driving element and said fixedcontact member.

26. A tumbling apparatus of the-class described comprising a Workholder, means for supporting said work holder in position over a tank,engaging driving and driven elements carried respectively by saidsupport and said spindle, a fixed contact member carried by said supportadapted to make electrical connection to said work holder, and a devicemounted on said support for moving said work holder to disengage saiddriving and driven elements and shift the work holderrelative' to thefixed contact member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 5th day of FLOYD T. TAYLOR.

